Casters Fly Shop was established in Hickory, North Carolina in 1999. We are located at the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in western North Carolina- the gateway to some of the finest trout waters east and west of the Mississippi. It is our mission, as a Platinum Orvis Dealer, to furnish the fly angler with all the tools necessary to be successful on the water or in front of the fly tying bench.

Pages

Monday, September 6, 2010

Bobbin Holders

Fly tying has come a long way since its crude beginnings in the middle of the 19th century. Tiers had very few tools and materials to utilize whereas today we have more choices than we know what to do with. As a general rule, quality tools and materials usually allow fly tiers to learn faster and tie better flies. Therefore, you should always strive to obtain the best tools and materials that your budget will allow. The best place to obtain these is your local fly shop. Local fly shops are "going by the wayside" and they need all the help and support each of you can provide.

The primary tools needed to tie flies are a vise, scissors, bobbin, bobbin threader and whip finisher (or half hitch tool). Additional tools like a bodkin, hair stacker, hackle pliers, hackle gauge, cautery, dubbing loop tool, etc. all have specific uses, and will become important to as each tier refines their skills, and they make the decision to attempt different methods and techniques.

The concept of bobbins has been the same for the last 140 years- an important tool meant to hold a fly tiers thread, floss, and/or wire spools, and one to assist with wrapping thread around the hook. When choosing a bobbin one must consider the length of the tube, it's diameter, the tension it provides, and whether it has a stainless tube or not. In time, thread friction will wear grooves in the ends of stainless tubes, which will ultimately create thread fraying and cutting burrs; a ceramic, titanium, or ruby tip will help prevent this. Tube length and diameter also has importance in certain applications. For instance, a longer tube is advantageous because it allows more leverage when wrapping the thread and provides more control in the placement of the thread. At the same time, bobbins with a larger diameter tube are used for floss and other heavy or thick materials. Again, these are some of the considerations that must be made when choosing a bobbin(s).

Even though the intentions are the same, bobbins and their design have changed dramatically throughout history. They began as a crude, cumbersome instrument and today they are more refined and some can perform multiple functions, like the Petitjean Thread Through Bobbin.

I can find out anything I need about bomb making and basket weaving on the internet but I have had a difficult time finding out much about the time-line and history of fly tying and the tools used. The Perry Bobbin from the 1940's and DH Thompson Bobbin Needle from the 1960's are 2 that you can find a little information about.

Morris Perry was a well known Classic Salmon Fly Tying and Fishing expert from England. He moved to West Haven, Connecticut and opened a fishing shop. During World War II he invented the Perry Bobbin. It was designed of mostly wood because steel was scarce as a result of the war. In the early 1960's, he moved back to England where he fished and tied his Featherwing Salmon Flies. His partner in Long Island Sound continued to market the Perry Bobbin but the market shrunk with the lifting of steel rationing and the flood of Asian imports. The DH Thompson Bobbin Needle is an almost identical version but is made almost entirely of steel. Boy is it heavy. I have one in the shop and it doubles as a barbell.

As mentioned beforehand, we have more options than we can shake a stick at. Listed below are some of my favorites. They are listed in accordance to their price and not necessarily in the order in which I prefer them.

Ekich Ultimate Bobbin.The $100 Bobbin. No cost was spared in sourcing the best materials possible (stainless steel, brass & anodized aircraft aluminum), nor was effort spared in achieving the highest tolerances and finishes on CNC machine centers. The result is a highly functional, durable and reliable product that will give you years of pure tying joy. This bobbin is not for everyone, although, it might just be for you.

Marc Petitjean's MP Thread Through Bobbin. The bobbin of all bobbins. You can change thread spools and thread it without even looking; plus, you can adjust the thread tension to your liking with the thread tension spring. The MP Bobbin also incorporates a wire loop for thread dubbing loops and spins on axis. Made with love by the Swiss, for the world. Bobbin not designed for light threads, like 10/0, 14/0, etc..

Stonfo Elite Disc Drag Bobbin. This machined bobbin has a hardened steel tip insert and countersunk feed that will allow thread to glide through the tube for threading and tying. The drag control has a large adjustment zone for fine tuning thread tension to your personal liking.

Renzetti Ruby Tipped Midge Bobbin. Renzetti bobbins are in a class by themselves. The ruby tip provides for ultra smooth thread delivery and excellent wear resistance. Plus, the smooth spool knobs are perfect for fine detail and lighter denier threads. The standard length tube is 2-inches long and is 3/32-inch in diameter. Also available in an extended length version (saltwater) upon request; the tube is 2 3/4-inches long and 1/8-inch in diameter.

Rite Bobbins. AMAZING VERSATILITY FOUND IN NO OTHER BOBBIN! Any standard thread spool works with all "RITE"TM Bobbins.

Tiemco Ceramic Bobbins. The Tiemco bobbins have ceramic tubes to ensure smooth winding of fly tying thread for years to come. They last many times more than conventional steel bobbins. I have personally tied with one for more than 15 years. Available in straight or curved.

Griffin Ceramic PeeWee Bobbin.This small bobbin is only 3" long. It will hold a standard spool of thread while it fits perfectly in your palm. Flared on the in-feed end it also carries the ceramic insert. Griffin is one of the leaders in the creation of fine fly tying tools.

Montana Fly River Camo Ceramic Bobbin. This bobbin is the coolest tool since the introduction of hand axes. Ceramic lined stainless tube is made to last. These bobbins come in a brown or rainbow trout pattern. Great gift for the "hard to shop for" fly tyer.

These aren't the only bobbins on the market that tiers prefer; it all comes down to personal preference. Share your favorite bobbin with us.

It was interesting to read what you had to say about the Perry Bobbin and the Thompson Bobbin Needle. I have both.When I was MUCH younger, I used to go into Perry's shop quite often. If I had a few dimes, I would buy a fly or two. They usually turned out to be Mickey Finns. A while ago I had a chance to buy a Perry Bobbin, so I could not pass it up. It brings me back about 60 years.

A friend of mine gave me a Thompson Bobbin Needle in very nice condition in the original box, also in good condition. I doubt if I will ever use it though.

He also gave me a Thompson Wing Former, in the original, very good condition box, with the original instructions, and three original blades in the original paper envelope. I know I'll never use that.I am now starting my 9 year old grandson in tying his own flies, so hopefully, the magic continues.

Dave Hise/Casters Fly Shop

Handy Work at the Helm

Fish from Video Above

About Me

I grew up in Los Angeles and my fly fishing addiction began at the age of 14. Growing up, I fly fished places like Piru Creek, San Gabriel River, and the LA River; but also made frequent jaunts throughout the West.
I went away to college and completed my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1989 with a degree in Physical Anthropology.
It was at that point, that I strived to become a Forensic Osteologist. I moved to Michigan to attend graduate school at Michigan State University, where I was in the PhD program in Forensic Osteology. Following roughly 3 years of field work, which included many hours in the morgue, I began to wonder if I was really cut out for that line of work.
I understood that fly fishing was my real passion but often wondered how I could make a career out of my hobby. My primary line of work throughout school was guiding and working in fly shops. In my mind, I knew the fly fishing industry. With this in mind, I decided to quit graduate school and move to Montana. The rest is history....